Meet the New Assistants!

July 8th 2010

A few weeks ago, we were joined by two wonderful new publicity assistants, Nick and Bobby. Now that they’re settled in, I decided it was time to harass properly introduce them to you. Hopefully this (incredibly interesting) Q&A will show how lucky we are to have them on board.

Do you speak (or pretend to speak) any other languages?

Nick: Yes, Farsi. My parents were born and raised in Iran. They came to the US to continue their studies at college. They met here in the States and a few years later I entered the picture. My first language was, in fact, Farsi. I grew up in a house where my parents and grandparents both spoke to me in Farsi. I did not learn English until I was in early elementary school. Looking back, this now explains so much…

Bobby: I studied Spanish up until sophomore year of college, but I can’t really call what I do with the language “speaking” it. I also studied some Japanese when I studied abroad, and I can now ask where the train station is, I think.

What is your favorite book that was not originally published in English?

Nick: War and Peace. I read it for the first time a few years back after my brother continuously insisted on my commitment to finishing the behemoth of a book. Finally, I gave in and I am now forever indebted to him. This book is my bible and is undoubtedly this best piece of literature ever created. It is both a beautiful story as well as a deep philosophical piece that proves to be a perpetually modern novel that will never lose its relevance in society. This is the only intellectual answer I will provide, promise.

Bobby: Labyrinths by Borges, which might not count since it’s a collection of short stories. No other author has inspired so many moments of disturbed awe and wonder for me. I like when a book freaks me out enough that I have to leave the room.

Fill in the blank: Don’t stop _____________.
(a) believing
(b) ’til you get enough
(c) the music

Nick: It’s a tie between “Brown chicken brown cow” (the new way of saying “bow-chika-bow-wow”) and “Cobra yawn” (which is when you inadvertently squirt saliva from your mouth when you yawn–I know, it’s gross, but don’t judge. I wasn’t the one who came up with it.).

Bobby: “Insanity band.”

What’s the oddest job you’ve ever had?

Nick: Teaching English in Thailand.

Bobby: Working for a crazy old man’s travel firm, which was run out of his house. He wanted to make me his protégé, but I soon discovered things in his garage which implied that he wanted me to be something more, at which point I promptly terminated the employment.

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Nick: Team Edward?

Bobby: Team Coco.

If you two went head-to-head on an episode of Wipe Out, who would win?

Nick: I don’t have the best center of gravity, so Bobby would probably win.

Bobby: I had to look up what “Wipe Out” was, and it looks like no one wins on that show.

If you had to pick a theme song to play every time you entered a room, what would it be?